10/13/2025
Happy Columbus Day and Italian American Heritage and Culture Month š®š¹
DāAuria-Murphy Triangle, a New York City Park, got its name from the DāAuria-Murphy American Legion Post in the Belmont section of the Bronx. The post was created in 1918, following World War I, and the members originally planned to name it for the Mayor of New York, John P. Mitchel, at an installation ceremony. When the mayor failed to appear, the Legionnaires decided to change the name at the last minute to honor two young men from the neighborhood who had lost their lives in the war, John DāAuria and Henry J. Murphy.
In 1992, the Parks Department decided to renovate DāAuria-Murphy Triangle at the prompting of the community. The granite statue of Christopher Columbus that stood in Columbus Park on the corner of Bathgate Avenue and East 189th Street was relocated and became the centerpiece of the newly redesigned park.
Carved in 1925, the statue was paid for from the pennies contributed by struggling Italian immigrants of Belmont. The statue continues to be a symbol of the struggles of Italian-Americans and means a great deal to the community. It reminds us of our ancestorsā contributions to their families, the Bronx, and to the United States throughout history.
The statue is the work of Bronx-based sculptor and carver Attilio Piccirilli, one of the six Piccirilli Brothers, who arrived in New York from Italy in 1888. All six brothers ā Attilio, Ferrucio, Furio, Getulio, Masaniello, and Orazio were born in Massa, Tuscany, known for some of the worldās finest marble. Their father, Giuseppe, a master carver, taught them the trade.
The Piccirilli Brothersā artistry and passion for stone-carving was unrivaled. They carved hundreds of commissions across New York City and the country. The Piccalilli Brothers worked together as a family in their studio setting. They considered the achievements of one the achievements of all.
